Pirithous, in Greek mythology, was the King of the Lapiths of Larissa in Thessaly, as well as best friend to Theseus.
Pirithous and Hippodamia receiving the centaurs at his wedding. Antique fresco from Pompeii.
"Pirithous' Kampf um Helena" by Joseph Echteler and Richard Brend'amour
Pirithous, Hippodamia (here labeled under the name Laodameia), a Centaur, and Theseus, on an Apulian red-figure calyx-krater, 350-340 BC
Theseus and Pirithous abducting Elena by Pelagio Palagi (1814)
The Lapiths were a group of legendary people in Greek mythology, who lived in Thessaly in the valley of the Peneus and on the mountain Pelion. They were believed to have descended from the mythical Lapithes, brother of Centaurus, with the two heroes giving their names to the races of the Lapiths and the Centaurs respectively. The Lapiths are best known for their involvement in the Centauromachy, a mythical fight that broke out between them and the Centaurs during Pirithous and Hippodamia's wedding.
Metope from the Elgin Marbles depicting a Centaur and a Lapith fighting.
A centauromachy relief on an ancient Roman sarcophagus, c. 150 AD, Museo Archeologico Ostiense.
Battle of Centaurs and Lapiths, by Piero di Cosimo (notice the female centaur with a male centaur in the foreground).
